Pete Buttigieg was in South Carolina this weekend as he considers a second presidential campaign. South Carolina Democrats halted his 2020 run when he failed to connect with Black voters. Six years later, things have changed for both him and those same voters. He spent four years as President Joe Biden's transportation secretary. And for Black voters, a recent Supreme Court decision threatens Black representation specifically in the South. Buttigieg visited a Black church and spoke with students at a historically Black college. Some voters and Black leaders say they liked what they heard, while stressing it's still very early before 2028.

Florida Republicans have settled on Byron Donalds, a congressman, as their candidate for governor, and that now makes eight Black major party nominees for governors this year. Maryland’s Wes Moore is the only Black governor now and he's seeking reelection in November. The Democrat is just the third elected Black governor in U.S. history. All have been Democrats and men. The November slate includes Democrats and Republicans, men and women. The nominees are promoting their experience and ideas for all constituents. But many say the possibility of expanded representation matters, given the nation’s history and the current environment surrounding issues of race and racism.

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz is running for reelection in a new Florida district after Republicans redrew the congressional map. This change has led Wasserman Schultz to run in a heavily Democratic area that has historically elected Black Democrats. The redistricting follows a Supreme Court decision affecting minority voting strength. Wasserman Schultz is a former national party chair who's white. She faces criticism for running in this district but argues her experience makes her a strong advocate. Her main opponent is former congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who is Black and is running despite facing legal challenges. The race highlights ongoing debates about representation and minority voting rights.

Democrats seeking the party’s presidential nomination in 2028 will need to prove themselves early on in states where Black and Latino voters and union members are key supporters. An election-year calendar approved Saturday makes South Carolina’s primary the first, followed by Nevada. New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia round out the early states, throughout February 2028. The primary lineup endorsed by the Democratic National Committee pushes Iowa from the traditional top spot. Some potential candidates in what is expected to be a large field have visited early-voting states such as South Carolina. Party leaders have said the order gives candidates the best shot at winning back the White House.